GARDAI are appealing for witnesses after a man was hospitalised with serious head injuries following an early- morning altercation on a street.

The 30-year-old suffered the injuries during a serious assault at about 3am yesterday on College Street in Carlow town.

He was initially taken to St Luke's General Hospital in Kilkenny before being transferred to the head trauma unit at Beaumont Hospital in Dublin, where his condition was described as serious.

A man in his 20s was arrested by investigating gardai in Carlow garda station for questioning. He was later released without charge and a file is being prepared for the Director of Public Prosecutions.

Gardai appealed for anybody who may have witnessed the incident, or been in the College Street area at about 3am yesterday, to contact them at Carlow garda station on 059 9136620, or on the garda confidential line on 1800 666 111.